Steering assembly

Abstract

A steering assembly includes a steering column including a column housing for retaining a column tube, and a reinforcing member for reinforcing an end of the column tube. The column housing includes a positioning portion, and a fitting hole having an aperture at the positioning portion. The column tube includes an end fitted in the fitting hole. The reinforcing member includes a sleeve having a first and a second end, and a flange extended radially outwardly from the first end of the sleeve. The sleeve is fixed as fitted on an outer periphery of an end of the column tube and inserted in the fitting hole at the second end thereof. The flange is abutted on the positioning portion of the column housing, for axially and/or radially positioning the column tube.

1. A steering assembly comprising:
 a steering shaft; and 
 a steering column for retaining the steering shaft, the steering column including a column tube for rotatably supporting the steering shaft, and a column housing for retaining the column tube, 
 the column housing including a positioning portion, and a fitting hole having an aperture at the positioning portion, 
 the column tube including an insertable end inserted in the fitting hole, 
 the steering assembly further comprising a reinforcing member to reinforce the insertable end of the column tube, the reinforcing member including a sleeve having a first end and a second end, and a flange extended radially outwardly from the first end of the sleeve, 
 the sleeve being fitted on an outer periphery of the insertable end of the column tube, and inserted in the fitting hole of the column housing at the second end thereof, 
 the flange of the reinforcing member abutted on the positioning portion of the column housing thereby axially and/or radially positioning the column tube; 
 wherein the reinforcing member is made of metal; 
 wherein the sleeve of the reinforcing member is press-fitted onto an outer circumference of the insertable end of the column tube, wherein relative movement between the sleeve of the reinforcing member and the column tube is restricted in an axial direction; 
 wherein the flange of the reinforcing member and the positioning portion of the column housing are coupled to each other in a state where the flange of the reinforcing member abuts the positioning portion; and 
 wherein the column tube is fixed to the column housing by the reinforcing member. 
 
     
     
       2. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange of the reinforcing member includes an annular flange. 
     
     
       3. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning portion includes an edge of the aperture of the fitting hole. 
     
     
       4. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning portion includes a plane orthogonal to an axial direction of the column tube. 
     
     
       5. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange of the reinforcing member has a greater thickness than that of the column tube. 
     
     
       6. The steering assembly according to Clam  1 , wherein the column housing includes a flange extended from an edge of the aperture of the fitting hole, whereas the positioning portion includes an end face of the flange of the column housing. 
     
     
       7. The steering assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the flange of the reinforcing member and a flange of the column housing are brought into abutting contact relation and fastened to each other. 
     
     
       8. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial length of an outer periphery of the sleeve is equivalent to a fitting length of the column tube with respect to the column housing. 
     
     
       9. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the column tube includes an upper tube and a lower tube fitted with each other, and the reinforcing member is to reinforce an end of the lower tube. 
     
     
       10. The steering assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein an impact load can be absorbed by relative sliding movements between the upper and lower tubes, and wherein a distance between the flange of the reinforcing member and an opposite end face of the upper tube is substantially equal to a quantity of stroke of the upper tube absorbing the impact load. 
     
     
       11. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve of the reinforcing member is welded onto an outer circumference of the column tube. 
     
     
       12. The steering assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange of the reinforcing member is bolted to the positioning portion of the column housing. 
     
     
       13. The steering assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the flange of the reinforcing member includes bolt through-holes.